Family of slain Iraqi War veteran told it must remove SpongeBob memorial from graveside

This photo shows Kimberly Walker's gravestone in the likeness of popular cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants. (Contributed photo/WHNT)

A SpongeBob SquarePants-shaped headstone in memory of an Army veteran who
survived two tours in Iraq only to be found dead in a Colorado Springs hotel
room is causing controversy at a Cincinnati cemetery.

The family of Kimberly Walker has been told the headstone in
the shape of her favorite cartoon character would have to be removed from the
traditional grounds of Spring Grove Cemetery, according to AL.com/Huntsville Times news
partner, WHNT News 19 and media reports.

Cemetery officials said the personnel who approved the
headstone was mistaken.

The 7-foot, 7,000 pound marker, with features Sponge Bob in
an Army uniform with Walker's name and rank, along with a duplicate for her
living twin sister, was erected Oct. 10. The family paid $26,000 for the two
monuments.

The family said they received a call the day after the
monuments were erected and told they had to be removed. Cemetery officials said
they will reimburse the Walker family for the cost of the monuments and
replacements.

In a statement to the press, the president of Spring Grove
said, "Although the family chose a design with the guidance of a spring grove
employee, unfortunately, the monument did not fit within spring grove cemetery
guidelines. We are working with the
walker family and are committed to design a solution, at our expense, that will
properly memorialize Kimberly within the context of Spring Grove's historic
landscape and guidelines."

Walker, 28, was found dead on Valentine's Day. Her
boyfriend, an Army sergeant, was arrested and charged with her killing.